COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As the city works to ensure that every resident in Columbus has an affordable place to call home, the Central Ohio Community Land Trust (COCLT) reached a milestone.
COCLT unveiled its first multi-family housing development, which is also the organization's 100th affordable home.
The COCLT, a subsidiary of COCIC: The Franklin County Land Bank, has completed the multi-family housing development, located on N. 5th St., it includes four duplex units.
Years ago, N. 5th St. in Weinland Park looked much different than it does today. What is now four duplex units used to be vacant homes, boarded up and demolished.
In November 2019, the Franklin County Land Bank acquired the four land parcels. They were all demolished by 2020, creating an opportunity to add new affordable housing units. The COCLT began working with Simmons Corporation in 2023 to develop these four duplexes.
“This is a land trust project that is open to first time home buyers, homeowners, giving them an opportunity to be able to have affordable and stable housing for the first time in their lives maybe,” said Tanya Long, president of Weinland Park Community Civic Association.
Weinland Park began its revitalization project around 2011 or 2012. The newly-built duplexes are continuing their goal to house people and families that want to purchase homes that are beautiful and affordable.
“There's always room for one more and as this city, this community continues to grow into the future,” Mayor Andrew Ginther said. “That's how we need to think about it.”
City leaders said everybody who works in this region should be able to afford to live here. They said we need housing at every level to make sure that people are not overpaying whether they rent or buy.
“It's critically important because the demand for housing is high. People need housing, period, but they need housing that they can afford,” said Curtiss Williams, president of the Franklin County Land Trust.
Long said one of the biggest issues she sees is landlords asking that you have three times the rent in order to get housing. She said there aren’t a lot of people who can afford that.
“A lot of people become homeless. They double up with family, they couch surf or they're in the streets or in homeless camps. It's heartbreaking and it's frustrating,” Long said.
Columbus is growing much faster than its been building, leaders said a lot needs to change if we want to keep up with that growth.
“It's the cost of materials that have to change," Williams said. "There has to be an opportunity to build a higher density. There has to be mortgages available for folks who need mortgages. And there needs to be builders who can build and build affordably."
This is COCLT’s 100th new affordable home. Of these homes, 90% have been purchased by first-time homebuyers, 83% are minority heads of household and more than half are owned by individuals at 80% of Area Median Income or below. If you’d like to learn more about these homes and how to apply, click here.
